The Channel

The AEA system is working on a branding project. One of the first steps is to create a brand promise. Please share one word that describes the work that you do. No phrases, please. Click here to add YOUR word!!

Many thanks to Farrah Olson for co-coordinating the development of our latest Success Story! Watch and learn how Elias, a student with Pervasive Developmental Disorder, is working toward building a life beyond high school. Elias has received assistance and guidance from AEA 267 Transition Services in order to gain work experience and build valuable skills for the future.

Unfortunately, this winter’s crazy weather has meant a handful of days when an AEA 267 office had to be closed. As you can probably imagine, clearing the parking lot and sidewalks on these days can sometimes take several hours. Please take extra caution if you voluntarily choose to visit the office on an office closed day.

Please refer to the Master Contract within the iVisions system or visit with your supervisor regarding counting your time on that day. For staff not on year-round contracts, office closed days do not typically count as contract days. The Human Resources office is in the process of updating guidance documents, including new FAQs, which will be shared in the near future.

Special thanks to Kay Schmalen for contributing this valuable article.

The rise of social media (e.g. Facebook, Google+, Twitter) and its use across multiple devices has increased access to personal information, such as birthdate, phone numbers, addresses. While sometimes it is nice to receive numerous birthday wishes via Facebook, it is also your responsibility to be aware of what information you are sharing on the web and with whom.This information can be found in each social media’s privacy settings or your profile settings.

Beyond social media sites, there are other ways that information can show up in search results. For example, obituaries, newspaper articles and minutes from public meetings.  One way to determine how much and what kind of information can be found via the web is to do a search for your name.  Include your location or place of employment to increase the likelihood that you have the right person. If you find information about yourself and are unsure where it comes from, refer to or click on the information below the title of the web page to determine where that information is located.  (The information below is located on the Google Apps Iowa Website.)

If you wish to have information removed and you do not have control of that website,  you can contact the owner of the site to see what (if any) actions can be taken to remove the information.

Social media sites

Google+ is a social media tool, similar to Facebook. Beyond the social networking of Google+, Google+ is perfect to help you build your Professional Learning Network by connecting with other colleagues, experts and professional organizations in your field.  Google Hangouts, a tool within Google+, is one of the recommended and supported tools at AEA 267 in order to communicate via video conferencing with other AEA 267 employees, LEA staff and other educators across the world. The opportunity to connect quickly and easily with others has made Google Hangouts an indispensable tool that has brought AEA 267 colleagues and LEA educators closer.

As an agency employee utilizing Google+ and Google Hangouts, we strongly encourage you to include a picture of some sort. This picture doesn’t have to be a picture of you, but a picture that identifies you (e.g. a picture of your dog, a Hawkeye, a cartoon picture, etc.). Also, as an AEA 267 employee, it is very helpful for others to have information regarding where you work in your profile and/or your tagline. Any information beyond those two basic areas, (e.g. hometown, high school, skills, birthday, relationship status) is optional.

For more information about the privacy settings about Google+ or Facebook, refer to these two documents.

Google+ Privacy Settings

Facebook Privacy Settings

Every five years, the agency participates in an accreditation site visit facilitated by the Iowa Department of Education. The site visit serves as an opportunity to ensure that AEA standards for service are being met and that progress is being made toward goals. As a reminder, the agency’s site visit will be held on April 22-24, 2014 (opening presentation on April 1). In the coming days, staff members directly involved with providing service in the agency’s core work areas may be asked to participate in the visit through structured interviews. We hope to put our best foot forward during the site visit process and showcase the incredible work being done on behalf of children by our staff and those we serve! For more information, contact Dr. Jon McKenzie.

The annual AEA/DE Customer Feedback Survey, which provides educators we serve with an opportunity to share feedback about our services, launched on Monday, March 3. Traditionally, our agency has enjoyed an enviable return rate on the survey (typically around 40%), which makes the data very useful.

Please encourage teachers and school administrators you work with to respond to the survey, which will close on Friday, April 11. (As a reminder, AEA staff members are not eligible to take the survey.)

The AEA 267 Board of Directors met Wednesday, March 5, 2014 at 6 p.m. in the AEA 267 Cedar Falls Conference Center. During the meeting, the board:

• Heard a first reading of the following board policies:
  • 500 Series (Students)
  • 600 Series (Business Procedures)
• Approved the request for proposals for 2013-14 audit services.
• Approved the 2013-15 Equity/Affirmative Action Report.
• Reviewed the notification of Dissolution Commission letter received from Corwith-Wesley LuVerne CSD.
• Approved the Flexible Benefits Plan and Flexible Benefits Plan summary.
• Heard a variety of reports from directors and fellow board members.

Immediately after the regular meeting, a Board Strategy Session was held regarding collective bargaining.

The AEA 267 Foundation also convened following the regular meeting.

The following story details the powerful impact of a new model of service delivery in special education. The “practitioner-as-coach” model provides parents and caregivers with the skills they need to meet their child’s needs rather than working directly with the child. AEA 267 is implementing this model in early childhood and seeing successful outcomes for children and families.

Rebecca Johnson* knows the value of Area Education Agency (AEA) services. As a stay-at-home mother of five children, four of whom receive services from Area Education Agency 267 (AEA 267), Johnson has had plenty of experience with staff from the agency coming into her home to provide direct service to her children. Over the past five years, Rebecca’s children have received services ranging from speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, early intervention support, and service coordination.

“The AEA has really been there for us,” said Johnson. “I don’t know where our kids would be without their help over the years.”

Currently, the agency is serving Johnson’s son, Jeffery*, who is just under two years old and has developmental delays. Pat Stenzel, an AEA 267 special education early childhood educator, has been coming into Johnson’s home every other week to provide services. But something is different this time. Rather than Johnson just observing, she is the one working with Stenzel, who in turn is teaching her how to help Jeffery. The approach represents a major shift in philosophy regarding the delivery of AEA services. Rather than the AEA consultant providing services directly to the child in the home on bi-weekly basis or through another set schedule, the parent is given instruction and strategies to use with the child daily. And studies prove that it works.

“This model holds a lot of promise for the families and children that we serve,” said Dr. Mary Stevens, AEA 267 Director of Special Education. “Intuitively, we know that the parent or caregiver has many more opportunities than we do to interact with the child receiving services. If we can provide them with the tools and strategies to help, we can expect much more rapid growth and change.”

Putting parents and caregivers in the role of active participants, rather than as observers, has other benefits as well. “I understand more at IEP [Individualized Education Plan] meetings now. It’s all just easier. I feel more like an expert,” said Johnson. She’s also seen rapid improvement with Jeffery. “I just repeat, repeat, repeat with him the things that I’ve learned from Pat…and he’s doing much better.”

 Stenzel, who is part of a cadre of AEA 267 staff who received specialized training in the coaching approach over the summer, said the model will be used with all new families entering the special education system in early childhood and will be expanded to teachers and caregivers as well. “The research and our experience tells us that this works,” said Stenzel. “We have an obligation to keep going.”

In the meantime, Johnson can’t say enough positive about the arrangement. “Pat and I have gotten to know each other better in the last six months than ever before.”

 Stenzel agrees. “This a partnership. We are in it together. When we work together, we can do amazing things for these kiddos.”

*names have been changed

Dates for the August kick-off meetings have been set for each sector. Please be sure these dates are on your calendar and you are planning to attend your sector’s meeting. We are planning a great day of learning and connecting with your colleagues!

• Monday, August 11 (AEA 267 Clear Lake Office)

• Tuesday, August 12 (NE Sector, site to be determined)

• Wednesday, August 13 (AEA 267 Cedar Falls Conference Center)

• Thursday, August 14 (AEA 267 Marshalltown Office)

Twitter continues to serve as an important source for personal learning for many educators. Did you know that you can follow streams of conversations/resources directly related to your favorite topic, content or discipline area on Twitter? Each topic has a specific “hashtag” that allows the user to access what others are sharing. Many useful articles, strategies, and resources are shared daily across the world via this powerful tool.

A comprehensive directory is shared below. (Remember that new hashtags are being added daily!)

Need help getting started with Twitter? Contact any IT staff member or Beth Strike.

Kathy Enslin

During the February board meeting, the AEA 267 board voted to approve the employment of Kathy Enslin as the agency’s Assistant Chief Administrator/Director of Human Resources beyond the 2013-14 interim year.

“Kathy has done a tremendous job during this interim period and is well respected by both staff and our local school partners,” said Dr. Roark Horn. “I am very pleased that we are able to keep her on staff and continue to move forward as an agency.”

Congratulations, Kathy!

Again this year, we are seeking letters of advocacy from LEA parents, teachers, administrators (and even students!) who are willing to write their local legislator(s) on our behalf. Specifically, we are looking for letters of support around our legislative priority areas where we are seeking additional categorical funding.

Please review the AEA legislative priorities. Consider the families, educators and students you work with and provide names and contact information on this document. Beth Strike will then follow up with you with further instructions. Your feedback is needed by February 14. We have set a goal to have at least five letters in each funding area but more are welcome!

The AEA 267 Board of Directors met Wednesday, February 5, 2014 from 4-5:30 p.m. in the AEA 267 Cedar Falls Conference Center for a work session. A public hearing on the 2014-15 AEA 267 proposed budget was held at 6 p.m. The regular meeting was held immediately following. During the meeting, the board:

• Heard a program review regarding the 2012-13 Audit report. Auditor’s gave the agency a “clean bill of financial health” and commended the work of the agency Business Office for their leadership and service.

• Approved the 2014-15 proposed budget for AEA 267.

• Reviewed the mileage rate. The mileage rate will remain at $.37/mile. In consideration of their decision, the board reviewed the rates of other AEAs and public agencies and found the current rate to be competitive.

• Approved AEA 267’s Annual Progress Report.

• Approved the recommendation for an insurance consultant beginning July 1, 2014.

• Accepted the lowest bid and approved the purchase of two media vans.

• Heard a second reading and approved the following board policies:

  • 300 Series (Administration

  • 400 Series (Personnel)

• Approved participation in the Iowa Drug and Alcohol Testing Program (IDATP).

• Approved the 2014 Extended School Year calendar.

• Approved the office calendar for 2014-15.

• Heard a variety of reports from directors and fellow board members.

A board strategy session for collective bargaining was held immediately after the board meeting.

Did you know that 88% of Iowans filed their income tax returns electronically last year? Filing electronically or “e-filing” is easy, safe, and decreases the time it takes to receive your refund. Those individuals who are 25 or younger, 65 or older, or in the military may qualify to efile for free. For more information, visit www.iowa.gov/tax

The Iowa Public Employee Retirement System (IPERS) website offers a convenient feature called “My Account” which offers individualized information about your IPERS benefits. This feature allows you to view a record of contributions, keep your contact information up-to-date, estimate your benefits, and update beneficiary information. For more information, visit www.ipers.org